Disinfecting-candle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SHAW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DISINFECTING-CANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,798, dated July 24,1883.

Application filed March 26, 1883.

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SHAW, of the city and county of Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Disinfecting-Oandle; andI hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention consists in combining any suitable disinfecting materialswith tallow, wax, or other combustible material, for the purpose ofconstructing a candle-of easy ignition and sure combustion to vaporizeand combine with oxygen, sulphur, or other disinfecting materials, forthe purpose hereinafter explained.

The object of the invention is to furnish a cheap, safe, and ready meansof disinfecting sick-chambers to prevent the spread of contagiousdiseases, and as a preventive and possible cure of contagious diseasesthat are propagated byspores and animalcules floating from the sick,orfrom foul cesspools, drain -pipes, &c.

In order to enable others to use and practice my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The candle, of configuration of an ordinary candle, as shown in drawing,is constructed, primarily, of sulphur and tallow, in proportions of sixof tallow or wax to one of sulphur, by weight. The ordinary flowers ofsulphur or pulverized sulphur is mixed with melted tallow, in whichmaterial it is held by mechanical suspension, in which condition it ispoured into the usual candle-mold provided with the ordinary cottonwick, which fashions it into the candle shape, and after it is withdrawnfrom the mold it can be treated as an ordinary candle in the usualmanner. The effect of the combustion of this candle is to generate in amoderate and permissible degree sulphurous vapors that permeate everypart of the room in which the candle is placed, and ultimately theentire house, or wherever the air circulates from said room, in a manner(No model.)

so gentle that no suffocating odors are noticed by the occupants, whilethe room or house can be disinfected and contagious diseases be wardedoff by the annihilation of the spores and animalcules with saidsulphurous vapors. These effects can be modified and possibly augmentedby the addition of other chemical agents.

The purpose of this improved candle is to provide a ready means ofdisinfecting by chemical combustion in a safe and practicable man ner,to be employed in every household by those unskilled in the chemic artswithout danger and at trifling cost, and to cause the combustion toextend over a prolonged period, to avoid the dangers and impracticalfeatures of a too rapid combustion.

It will be evident that the sulphur or other chemicals can be combinedwith various hydrocarbons and in varied proportions, and that thecandles can be fashioned into Various shapes without any alteration inthe result. I therefore do not wish to confine myself to any exactproportions or shape.

I- am aware that it has been proposed to combine sulphur with paraffineand other hydrocarbons in laboratory operations, and the combination wasto be effected by heating the same and causing the ultimate fusion ofthe two substances; but my invention is distinguished by the fact that Isecure a combustion of the sulphur, and that such combustion is slow,continuous, and uniform.

I claim As a new article of manufacture, a candle having a-carbonaceousbody and a wick, and sulphur or other disinfectant combined with thecarbonaceous matter ofrthe candle, whereby to secure the constantuniform evolution of disinfecting-gas as the candle isconsumed,substantiall'y as set forth.

THOMAS SHAWV. Witnesses:

IVAN PRowATTAIN,

WM. GARWOOD.

